Magic Johnson says NBA contraction might help league

Former NBA minority owner and playing legend Magic Johnson said that looming talk about a lockout after the 2010-11 season could signal significant economic changes in the sport.

“Where football may have a team or two struggling, we have multiple teams struggling,” Johnson said. “We have a bigger problem than the NFL, and I think the NFL will solve their problems easier, and ours will be a lot tougher.”

NBA commissioner David Stern said that the league might need to lose a couple of teams in order to get its business model in order.

“How much would it hurt the league if we lost teams? It wouldn’t hurt it. It might make it better,” Johnson said. “… I think if you take away a couple teams, the talent level goes up and the league will only benefit, so I don’t see a problem with that. We just hope that we put a good product out on the court, and that’s the key.”

Most of the talk about contraction has centered on franchises like Memphis, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers. All have struggled with ownership concerns over the years.

Sacramento is locked with little hope of a new facility in their current home and likely will have to move in order to play in a building that would provide the revenue streams that would enable the Kings to compete with the NBA’s elite.

Even as excitement is palpable for what many observers believe will be one of the most memorable seasons in the league’s history, the potential for a lockout next season is strong. But Johnson says he’s optimistic that players and owners will realize that drastic changes are needed so that most franchises in the league can become profitable again.

“(NBA commissioner David Stern) knows that he has to change the economics, and the players know it, too,” Johnson said. “I think they’ll work it out. Nobody wants a strike or anything like that.”

It will be extremely interesting to see if cooler heads prevail. Because it would be a shame if the league and its players were unable to immediately build on the momentum from this season into the future.